Stephen
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- Feb 28, 2002
- 81,677
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Post-Game Talk: Leafs win 4-1
- Thread starter Cleetus
- Start date
Apex Predator
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- Jun 21, 2019
- 4,303
- 4,496
Minten making things intersting. That is good to see
did the hawks not beat us both times last year, I think they did
Voodoo Child
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- Jun 16, 2009
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Another Amazon broadcast that brutally mogs TSN and Sportsnet. When the only issues are commercials getting cut off and a few seconds of the intermission show without sound, it's not a bad thing.
I am curious as to what exact identity this Blackhawks team is trying to create as a rebuilding franchise.
The Sharks have Smith, Eklund and Celebrini. The Ducks have Zegras and his bussy, McTavish, Carlsson and Mintyukov. The Jackets have Johnson, Marchenko and Fantilli. Montreal has Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Caufield and Hutson.
The Hawks have Bedard...and? A bunch of mystery boxes like Korchinski, Nazar and Levshunov - and a bunch of vets like Hall, Foligno, Teravainen, Dickinson, Martinez, Maroon and our old boys Mikheyev, Bertuzzi and Brodie? Okay, you need vets, you can't just toss the kids out there and see what happens, but...they're this bad?
Over two years ago I pumped the brakes on the Bedard train, basically saying 'He needs to size up to play this game.' And I appear to be right. He's going to be a great player, but it looks like teams have the book on him, and until he gains 15 lbs. he's going to have trouble imposing his will on the game. He's basically Matthews but instead of being 6'3 220 he's 5'11 180, Matthews would not be Matthews without his size. He's also nowhere near the two way player Matthews is.
On the Hawks I liked Vlasic, Dickinson, their goalie and honestly Mik and Bert. I would take Mik back for cheap.
That Willy sauce was a Willy geyser to Matthews on the first goal, textbook saucer pass that landed less than a foot from his stick, nasty pass and great finish. Willy looked dangerous and shifty all game.
Despite the goal, not a good game overall from 34. His line got hemmed in a few times bad in the 2nd and that penalty, while weak, was still a penalty.
Mitch got his 2 apples, but what really impressed me was his defensive game. He has to be the best defensive winger in the game, right? Does Mark Stone, of House LTIR, and his 44 games a year still count here?
JT back to back on spin to win, though that one was even weirder than the one against TBay, a game I was at. He's definitely breathing easier without the C and playing well - I still don't want to commit more than 6 to him but he can stick.
Against Florida, Stoli was bad. The team was not good either, we can admit that, but Stoli was bad in that game. Fantastic return to form for him.
Another guy who looks to have found himself is Benoit, he's calmed down, makes smart plays fast and doesn't take a bad penalty every game.
When everyone is healthy, just how can you send Minten back? He's got excellent anticipation, knows where to be, has a good active stick and is responsible. He has to stay as the 3C I think. Greb can go back, but keep Minten up.
Hall got dumped a few times, was funny to see.
This was the type of game for the Hawks that we used to lose all the time in the dark days of Burke, who drafted Morgan Rielly. Outskilled huge on all areas but able to patch together some stretches of good play, only to have a badly timed goal go in and sink us. Feels good to be on the other side.
Nothing really good or bad to say about anyone - there was absolutely zero danger they were going to lose this game. On to the next.
I am curious as to what exact identity this Blackhawks team is trying to create as a rebuilding franchise.
The Sharks have Smith, Eklund and Celebrini. The Ducks have Zegras and his bussy, McTavish, Carlsson and Mintyukov. The Jackets have Johnson, Marchenko and Fantilli. Montreal has Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Caufield and Hutson.
The Hawks have Bedard...and? A bunch of mystery boxes like Korchinski, Nazar and Levshunov - and a bunch of vets like Hall, Foligno, Teravainen, Dickinson, Martinez, Maroon and our old boys Mikheyev, Bertuzzi and Brodie? Okay, you need vets, you can't just toss the kids out there and see what happens, but...they're this bad?
Over two years ago I pumped the brakes on the Bedard train, basically saying 'He needs to size up to play this game.' And I appear to be right. He's going to be a great player, but it looks like teams have the book on him, and until he gains 15 lbs. he's going to have trouble imposing his will on the game. He's basically Matthews but instead of being 6'3 220 he's 5'11 180, Matthews would not be Matthews without his size. He's also nowhere near the two way player Matthews is.
On the Hawks I liked Vlasic, Dickinson, their goalie and honestly Mik and Bert. I would take Mik back for cheap.
That Willy sauce was a Willy geyser to Matthews on the first goal, textbook saucer pass that landed less than a foot from his stick, nasty pass and great finish. Willy looked dangerous and shifty all game.
Despite the goal, not a good game overall from 34. His line got hemmed in a few times bad in the 2nd and that penalty, while weak, was still a penalty.
Mitch got his 2 apples, but what really impressed me was his defensive game. He has to be the best defensive winger in the game, right? Does Mark Stone, of House LTIR, and his 44 games a year still count here?
JT back to back on spin to win, though that one was even weirder than the one against TBay, a game I was at. He's definitely breathing easier without the C and playing well - I still don't want to commit more than 6 to him but he can stick.
Against Florida, Stoli was bad. The team was not good either, we can admit that, but Stoli was bad in that game. Fantastic return to form for him.
Another guy who looks to have found himself is Benoit, he's calmed down, makes smart plays fast and doesn't take a bad penalty every game.
When everyone is healthy, just how can you send Minten back? He's got excellent anticipation, knows where to be, has a good active stick and is responsible. He has to stay as the 3C I think. Greb can go back, but keep Minten up.
Hall got dumped a few times, was funny to see.
This was the type of game for the Hawks that we used to lose all the time in the dark days of Burke, who drafted Morgan Rielly. Outskilled huge on all areas but able to patch together some stretches of good play, only to have a badly timed goal go in and sink us. Feels good to be on the other side.
Nothing really good or bad to say about anyone - there was absolutely zero danger they were going to lose this game. On to the next.
Last edited:
Jimmy Firecracker
Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque.
It’s ok to have a goalie that makes some saves to help you win a game
Not sure bout the Holmberg hate tbh
2 points in last 2 games on that line
15min/game
Blocks shots
takes hit to make plays
Defensively adequate
plays all situations
makes less than a mil
clearly Berube sees something in this guy
2 points in last 2 games on that line
15min/game
Blocks shots
takes hit to make plays
Defensively adequate
plays all situations
makes less than a mil
clearly Berube sees something in this guy
therealkoho
Him/Leaf/fan
Anthrax442
Registered User
MilkofthePoppy
Registered User
- Oct 27, 2022
- 1,099
- 1,911
Even for a rebuilding team Chicago is just poorly constructed. A lot of terrible contracts on that team. Maroon, Foligno, Hall, f***ing abysmal.
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 81,677
- 59,520
I agree, I missed the first but it looked like it was in pretty safe hands. I mean, as it should be since it's Chicago, but we didn't always have that in the past.
Evilhomer
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2019
- 5,353
- 5,295
Maybe, but he can't be on that line when the playoffs start.
Jimmy Firecracker
Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque.
That second period stunk imo. If not for Stolarz this game could’ve easily been similar to last years defeats to this shit Blackhawks team.
MSZ
Car guy
They did what needed to be done. Not a great one but it won't matter come April.
Optimist
Wendel and I
That goal horn has to go. The sound was normal for everything else during the game but that goal horn almost shattered my windows. Wasn't the most exciting game but we got the win as expected.
Anthrax442
Registered User
They need to let Grebyonkin go to Marlies and play 1st line minutes and then come back for the playoffs
Still need to tighten up on other team's entering the Leafs zone. Unless they backed off on this team knowing they couldn't finish, doubt it.
Leafsfan74
Registered User
- Jul 2, 2018
- 5,414
- 5,798
Game clearly meant more for the Blackhawks than the Leafs who coasted for too many shifts.
Stolarz critical to this win, especially when the game was tight. He was phlegmatic tonight (my thousand dollar word for the night).
The chipiness to the game provided a little more life than it deserved. I like that hit by Greb at the end of the game, he makes good use of his minutes and was probably delivering a bit of payback for something that occurred in the game.
Rather pedestrian game, but as long as it is a win it is better than an exciting loss.
Stolarz critical to this win, especially when the game was tight. He was phlegmatic tonight (my thousand dollar word for the night).
The chipiness to the game provided a little more life than it deserved. I like that hit by Greb at the end of the game, he makes good use of his minutes and was probably delivering a bit of payback for something that occurred in the game.
Rather pedestrian game, but as long as it is a win it is better than an exciting loss.
Very good, professional, workman like performance from the Leafs. Love what Brad and Craig have created.
Onto the next one.
Onto the next one.
thewave
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2011
- 42,396
- 12,850
I think some fans will only say that if the Leafs spend 60 minutes doing a 90's Devils impersionation.
